BBB
(out of 5)
Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s eternal short story adds elements of Italian-style comedy to a tragic narrative. Renato Rascel stars as an underpaid civil servant who embarrasses his colleagues by coming to work always dressed in a shabby overcoat riddled with holes. When he finally decides to spend his savings and have a brand new coat made, he achieves, for a few moments, the realization of all his dreams: a stronger standing in the office, respect from his peers and even attention from the woman of his dreams. This being a Russian story, however, things are not meant to go well for too long. Alberto Lattuada’s additions to Gogol’s originally brief narrative make for a strange combination of elements, but Rascel’s performance in the lead is comedy genius and overrides the unevenness of the venture.
Faro Film, Titanus
Directed by Alberto Lattuada
Adaptation and Screenplay by Alberto Lattuada, Giorgio Prosperi, Giordano Corsi, Enzo Curreli, Luigi Malerba, Leonardo Sinisgalli, Cesare Zavattini, based on the story by Nikolai Gogol
Cinematography by Mario Montuori
Produced by Antonio Ansaldo-Patti, Enzo Curreli
Music by Felice Lattuada
Production Design by Gianni Polidori
Costume Design by Dario Cecchi
Film Editing by Eraldo Da Roma
Film Festivals: Cannes 1952
